(NAPSA)}—It wasfitting that at their recent White House meeting, President Obama and Morocco’s King Mohammed VI sat beneath a portrait of George Washington. President Washington and a: Morocco’s then-King Mohammed III began America’s longest unbro- ken treaty alliance more than 200 years ago. In 1777, Morocco was the first country to recognize the new United States. Since then, the friendship between the two nations has grown andflourished. At their meeting on November 22, President Obama and King Mohammed VI “reaffirmed the strong and mutually beneficial partnership and strategic alli- President Obama and King Mohammed VI of Morocco share a lighter moment during their recent White House meeting. particularly for young people and women. President Obama reaffirmed the long-held U.S. position that mutual trust, common interests Morocco’s autonomy plan for and strong friendship.” Western Sahara is “serious, realisPresident Obamapraised the tic and credible,” and that it “repance,” as well as “shared values, King’s leadership in promoting democratic reform, economic development and human develop- ment in Morocco over the past decade. He also welcomed Moroc- co’s recent decision to reform its resents a potential approach that could satisfy the aspirationsof the people in the Western Sahara to run their own affairs in peace and dignity.” He pledged that the U.S. would continue to support “a address concerns about migrants, refugees and humantrafficking, peaceful, sustainable, mutually agreed-upon solution to the Western Sahara question.” mitment to maintaining its leaders noted “Today’s meeting immigration and asylum lawsto and commended Morocco’s com- record of furthering legal, political and economic rights for women. Both leaders noted a “deep concern” about terrorism and vowed to continue working together to boost regional cooperation initiatives in North Africa and the Mid- dle East, including on nonprolifer- ation and counterterrorism, to “counter the threat of violent ex- tremism in the region.” The President and the King In their closing statement, the demonstrates that the interests of the United States and Morocco continue to converge, and that this historic partnership, which began in the 18th century, contin- ues to thrive well into the 21st century.” For more on the U.S.-Morocco Joint Statement, go to http://m. whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/ 2013/11/22/joint-statement- united-states-america-and-king dom-morocco. This information is provided by Beckerman on behalf of the Goveconomic ties with and among the ernment of Morocco. More inforregion” and highlighted the im- mation is available at the U.S. portance of fostering broad-based Departmentof Justice in Washingstressed their countries’ “common commitment to building stronger economic opportunityin the region, ton, D.C.
